Racing game with gear drive mechanism



v April 29, 1969' J. WINN RACING GAME WITH GEAR DRIVE MECHANISM Sheetor'4 Filed Aug. 12, 1965 INVENTOR. (fa/m 144/211 April 29,1969 J, WINN3,441,277. RACING GAME WITH GEAR DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12, 1965 l ISheet 3 .br 4

INVENTOR.

hn WLpn April 1969 I J. WINN 3,441,277

' RACING 05MB WITH GEAR DRIVE MECHANISM FilclAug.12,1965 I Sheet 3 014April 29, 1969 'J- WINN RACING GAME WITH GEAR DRIVE MECHANISM Sheet o f4Filed Aug. 12, 1965 United States Patent Oflice Patented Apr. 29, 1969US. Cl. 273-86 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In amusement gamessimulating a horse race or the like, the racing figures are supportedfor travel about a circuitous track formed by especially shapedtrackways, by flexible bands to which are pivotally attached acontinuing series of wide gear blocks having teeth on the underside tomesh with a driving gear turning in a'vertical plane therebelow, thedriving gear having a changespeed driving ratchet and appertainingelectromagnetic means for altering the speed, a scrambling means beingprovided in the form of an apertured program disk interrupting light tophotoelectric cells for irregular actuation of the ratchet controlelectromagnets, together with circuit means for controlling a startinggate, winner preselection circuits, selection-cancelling circuits, gamecycle, etc.

This invention provides improvements'in a racing game of the type inwhich a number of contestant devices, such as simulated automobiles,horses, greyhounds, etc., pursue a course around a track from startingto finish positions and are moved through some form of variable drivemeans acting automatically to scramble the rates at which the variousfigures travel.

Some of the salient features of the present disclosures relate to acircuitous drive means in the form of a metal band and cooperative,sequential gear blocks for driving the individual contestant objectsaround the course; to a novel electro-me'chanical drive gear means forchanging the rate of movement of individual contestants from time totime; to an electrically governed random operated scrambling circuitmeans for modifying a driving stroke which moves the contestant objectsfrom time to time; and to certain control circuit means for conditioningthe apparatus for a cycle of operation, selecting and signallingwinners, and lining up the contestants for the start and actuating astarting gate.

Other aspects of novelty and utility relate to details of theconstruction and operation of the illustrative embodiment describedhereinafter in view of the annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a racing game in which the contestantobjects are horses;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one of the travelling bands and drivemeans for moving the racing objects;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational detail, to enlarged scale, ofparts of the travelling gear block and drive means;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial cross-section and rear elevationaldetail of some of the racing figures and parts of the guidewaystructure;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of parts of thefinish control mechanism;

FIGURE 5-A is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing elevational partsof the starting line-up mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the race programming device;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail of further enlarged parts ofthe programming and scrambling means;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective detail of the starting gatemechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a circuit diagram.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the game mechanism includes a set of racingfigures shown for illustrative purposes as a plurality of horse andjockey figures 12, each mounted for independent travel about acircuitous course on a track panel 13 which may be decorativelyembellished with suitable pictorial configurations simulative of aconventional race track including a simulated starting gate 14 and afinish line 15.

Situated adjacent the track panel is a control panel 16 on which arearranged certain control instrumentalities, such as a power or cyclestarting switch button 17, a gate starting or control button 19, aplurality of selection buttons 18A 18H, and a cancellation or resetbutton Means for supporting the individual racing figures, as seen inFIGURE 2, comprises a looped band 30, preferably of metal such as clockspring stock, but optionally of any other material having analogousqualities of flexibility and inherent stiffness capable of assuming andholding the shape depicted, there being one of these bands 30 for eachracing figure and each band being provided with a series of contiguouslysuccessive driving gear blocks 31 pivotally fastened one after anotherto one side of the band, as at pivots 32 shown to larger scale in FIGURE3. On each travelling band 30 one of the gear blocks 31X willadditionally have attached thereto a supporting arm 33 to which theracing figure 12, whatever its character, whether a horse, automobile,jack rabbit, etc., the said arms being preferably thin to projectthrough appertaining narrow track slots on the track panel, FIGURE 4.

The several travelling bands are individually supported for theircircuitous travel in corresponding formed guideways 34, having thecross-sectional configuration seen in FIGURE 4 and each including afirst recess or chamber portion 35 in the vertical side wall thereof anddimensioned t-o'freely receive therein the series of gear blocks orshoes 31 loosely held in confinement therein by the opposite side wallportions 36 of the next adjacent guideway. The guideway or tracksections 34 may all be identical and cooperate in adjacent pairs toshield and support the gear blocks.

The pivot pins 32 attaching each gear block (with or without a racingfigure) to the travelling band project beyond the corresponding gearshoe into a continuous guide and clearance groove 37 in the appertainingguideway for engagement with certain control switch means to bedescribed.

Means for individually driving each of the entire set of racing figurescomprises, FIGURE 4, a common idler shaft 40 extending laterally beneathall of the guideways and having freely floating thereon a plurality ofdrive gears 41A 41H, each aligned for driving engagement with the seriesof gear shoes 31 of the corresponding carrier band. I

As seen in both FIGURES 2 and 3, a common parallel drive shaft 45 ismounted in vertical alignment beneath the idler gear shaft 40 and ateach of the successive stations corresponding to one of the drive gears41A carries a crank 46A 46H corresponding to one of the racing figures.

Freely rockable on the idler shaft 40 alongside each drive gear is avariable-rate clutch means comprising a carrier plate 47 rockable onsaid shaft and urged by a long traction spring 48 attached thereto at apoint radial to said shaft into a normal position, which movement may beblocked, however, by a dog 50 comprising part of the armature for anelectromagnet 51, said armature being urged by a spring 52 to a blockingposition in which the carrier plate will be prevented from moving to itsnormal position under urgence of the traction spring 48.

3 The clutch means further includes a ratchet gear 48A 48H afiixed toeach corresponding drive gear 41A to rotate with the same, and eachrocker plate 47 is provided with dog means 49X and 49Y pivoted thereonand urged by spring means 498 in a direction to engage in the ratchetteeth responsive to rocking action of the plate as a consequence ofalternate action of a pair of crank arms 56 and 57 jointly driven attheir lower ends from the corresponding drive crank means 46A whichrotates continuously while the game is in operation, it being importantto observe that the driving connection between the lower end of eachcrank arm and the driving crank as provided by the long slots 56S and578 is impositive so that the drive gear for any racing figure may bemoved an amount depending upon whether the corresponding rocker plate isor is not blocked by the electromatically-controlled dog means 50, thusmaking it possible to selectively move the individual racing figuresfrom a common drive shaft and vary the progress of such figures aroundthe course with suitable actuations of the corresponding control magnets51, FIGURE 3, or 51A 51H as will appear in view of FIGURE 9 hereafter.

The foregoing variable drive means also makes it possible to selectivelystop any or all racing figures indefinitely, as for example in lining upfor the start of each new race in accordance with the control means nowto be described in view of FIGURE -A, which depicts the Start controlmeans for one of the racing figures.

Beneath each travelling band 30 at a position around the race coursecorresponding to the simulated Starting Line or gate 14 (FIGURE 5-A) area set of line-up levers 60A 60H all fixed on a common shaft 61 and eachhaving a dog portion 62 projecting into the guideway 34 for thecorresponding travelling band and into the path of the pivot pin 32 onthe gear shoe of the corresponding racing figure in such manner thatwhen the dogs are elevated to stopping position, as shown in FIGURE S-A,they will respectively block the corresponding pins and prevent thecorresponding racing figures from moving farther, thus holding theentire set of figures at the starting line.

The entire complement of line-up levers is normally retracted from theaforesaid line-up or stopping position by a spring means 63, butenergization of a line-up solenoid 64 will attract its plunger 65,having pivotal connection 66 with one of the line-up levers and therebyrock the dog and hence the common shaft 61 and therefore all of theline-up levers so as to thrust the dog portions 62 thereof into blockingpositions relative to the corresponding drive shoe pins with the resultthat all of the racing figures can approach and then be stopped in aline-up at the starting line.

The arrival of any racing figure at the simulated Finish Line issignalled by means shown in FIGURE 5 and including a plurality of FinishLevers 70A .70H, one for each horse or other figure, each independentlypivoted as at 71, and each having a dog portion 72A 72H projecting intothe path of the trip stud or pin 32X on the gear shoe of thecorresponding figure to be rocked downwardly by said pin and thrust aprojection 73 against a corresponding switch means 74, to open or closea control circuit.

Means for actuating the rocker-control electromagnets 51 of thevariable-stroke band-driving crank and ratchet mechanism is shown inFIGURES 6 and 7, and comprises a program ratchet disc 80 rotatable aboutan axis member 81 responsive to the stepping action of a driving pawl 82carried on an armature member 83 moved by electromagnetic meansincluding the coil 84 and a normal spring 85, a holding dog 86preventing retrograde slippage.

The program disc has a number of circular rows of pulse-controlperforations 79 which may be distributed in each row in random fashion,there being a particular one of these rows corresponding to each of thetravelling bands and its racing figure and the disc being mounted torotate between a set of lamps 87A 87H each aligned with one of the saidrows of perforations in alignment with a corresponding photosensitivecell 88A 88H situated on the opposite side of the disc for excitation bylight transmitted through the corresponding disc apertures from time totime responsive to the changes in angular position of the discoccasioned by the operation of the ratchet stepping means 82 inaccordance with circuit means hereinafter described, for actuating therespective blocking electromagnets which will alter the progress of theracing figures from time to time in a manner to be explained.

While the novel game apparatus is wholly suited to coin-controlledoperation if desired, for purposes of simplification a coin controlmeans has been omitted and the control circuit arranged for straightmanual starting and resetting, by freely-operable push button controls.Operating switches to condition the game for a race or a cycle ofoperation bring the horses to the starting gate, make selections forwinners, and lift the starting gate.

Each race or game cycle is terminated by the arrival of some racingobject or horse at the finish line to open one of the Finish switches 74described in view of FIGURE 5. This event breaks the power to the maindriving motor and leaves all racing contestants standing where they wereat the moment the winner arrived at the finish line to open one of theFinish or Win switches.

Thus, when a new race is to be initiated the contestants or horses mustbe brought up to the Starting Gate.

Referring to the circuit diagram of FIGURE 9 in which all switches areassumed to move clockwise from the positions shown to open or close acircuit, depending upon which event happens first as a result of suchclockwise motion, a new race may be initiated by holding the Gate switch92 closed (button 19, FIGURE 1), thereby applying power from the powerside of the line 90 via conductors 91B, 91C to the main driving motor 93returned to the drop side 94 of the power line. This operation willbring the horses up to the starting gate 14 where they will be heldagainst further movement until said gate is lifted as a result ofpushing the Start button to actuate the Starting Switch 95.

The new race starts on closure of the starting switch 95 (button 17,FIGURE 1) to apply power via conductor 96 to the coil 97 of the RaceRelay, which closes one of its own relay switches 97H and a holdingcircuit via conductor 98 through a normally-closed chain circuit definedby all of the series-connected Win or Finish switches 74A 74H in theirnormally closed condition, thus completing a power circuit fromconductor 90 which will maintain the Race Relay operated until one ofthe said chain Win switches 74A is opened by a winning contestant in themanner previously described in view of FIGURE 5.

As a further consequence of the aforesaid operation of the StartingSwitch and holding in of the Race Relay, a holding circuit for thedriving motor 93 is set up from power conductor 90 by another Race RelaySwitch 99 via conductors 91A and 91, thus shunting temporary motorcircuit via the manual Gate Switch 92 which is intended to energize themotor only long enough to bring the contestants up to the starting gate.

The new race begins with a lifting of the Starting Gate 14 as the resultof pull-in of the Race Relay, another of whose relay switches 100applies power from conductor 90 via conductor 101 to energize thestarting gate solenoid 102, lifting the gate 14 so that the field ofhorses is free to move forward and make the circuit around the trackunder control of the variable drive means previously described, untilthe first of the contestants to arrive once again at the finish line canopen one of the series-connected Win switches, thereby breaking theaforesaid chain circuit 74A 74H to drop out the Race Relay Coil 97 andopen its holding switch 97H and the motor holding switch 99, thusstopping the movement of the horses and ending the race and operatingcycle.

If it is desired to control the game by coins, instead of using themanual start button 17, the Master Start Line Switch 95 may be actuatedin the known manner by coins received from any of numerous coin-testingor accepting devices (not shown) available on the market.

A variator circuit which may be part of the control circuit of FIGURE 8,and is also part of the programming means previously described in viewof FIGURES 6 and 7, includes the array of photoelectric switches orcells 88A 88H connecting with power from a supply conductor 105 to acorresponding one of the blocking coils or electromagnets 51A 51H andthe drop side 106 of said supply, such that when any said photoelectricdevice is excited by its corresponding lamp 87A etc., as aforesaid, thecorresponding coil 51A, etc., will be energized to actuate the variabledrive means in the manner previously described in view of FIGURE 3 toalter the progress of the corresponding racing figure.

The rate of movement of the several drive bands 30 and their racingobjects is continually being varied under control of the aforesaidphotoelectric variator means by a pulsing of the step-up coil 84 for theprogram-ming disc 80 effected by frequent closures of a step switch 108by a cam programming disc 109 fixed on the main drive shaft 45 (FIGURE4). The said cam disc also determines the duration of the blockingpulses applied to the blocking electromagnets 51A, etc. through theagency of an interrupter switch 110 operated by said cam disc fordurations determined by its rate of rotation and the length of the camconfiguration 111.

The said interrupter switch 110 when closed connects power to thephoto-cell supply conductors 105, 106 from a source 112 via conductor113 and 114 and another relay switch 115 on the Race Relay, the coil 97of which, it will be recalled, holds in for the duration of the race.

The aforesaid photo-cell supply will preferably be a direct-currentsource which will also be utilized to energize the program stepping coil84 for a more reliable pulse than would be supplied by the usualalternating current from the source connected to conductors 90, 94.

It will be evident that the distribution of the light passages in theprogramming disc is intentionally irregular and can be complexlyscrambled in pattern and in a great number distributed variously overthe area of even a small disc of the type depicted, so that a wide rangeof movement variation of the horses can be had over a great manyoperating cycles before any repeat pattern will appear and the patternvarying capacity of the system is accordingly more than adequate for thepurposes of affording a realistic and genuine random movement of theracing objects.

The operation of the game permits several players to make a selection ofchoices for winning by pushing one of the selection buttons 18A 18H onthe panel 16 (FIGURE 1), which will result in closure of a correspondingselector switch 18AX 18HX (FIGURE 9), thereby energizing a correspondingSelection Relay Coil 120A 120H. For example, if button 18A is pushed,selector switch 18AX will apply power to coil 120A, the relay switch121A of which will close a holding circuit in shunt around the manualselector switch 18AX, and another relay switch 122A will also be closedto energize a corresponding one of the display lamps 125A 125H arrangedon the lamp panel 24 (FIG- URE 1). In case a change of selection isdesired, a normally closed reset or cancellation switch 130 may beopened (by button 18R) to break the holding circuit to any selectionrelay, thus dropping out such relay or relays and extinguishing theappertaining display lamps on panel 24.

In addition to the advantages and features hereinabove alluded to orinherent in the disclosure, the described constructions make. possiblean easily fabricated and assembled and serviced apparatus.

The gear blocks can be identical and economically molded from plasticmaterials, and have the advantage of affording any desired width of gearface thus making it possible to mount the driving gears directly beneaththe bands at conveniently spaced locations without crowding or criticalalignment and assembly, it being evident that a broad width across theface of the rack of gear teeth permits meshing with a broader drivinggear with considerable allowance for play and self alignment (see FIGURE4). The pivoted attachment of each block affords easy entry of its teethinto engagement with the driving gear and easy disengagement therewith,somewhat analogously to the self-adaptive action of a sprocket chain. Inaddition, the sidewise projection of the heads of the pivot rods affordsa driving support for both the blocks and attached band and one which islargely self-adjusting in the trackways. By attaching the blockscentrally at a single and more or less centered pivot point in the bodythereof, the intervening lengths of the band are free to flex laterallyso that the band as a whole can assume its looped configuration. Thewide character of the gear racks affords an ample land for mounting ofany desired appendage, such as the figures 12.

I claim:

1. In a race game having a plurality of racing figures each movable by acorresponding supporting and driven means about a closed circuit inrelation to other like figures similarly supported and moved,improvements in the supporting and driven means comprising: a continuousseries of separate gear rack bodies each attached to a continuousflexible band and individually movable relative thereto to follow inclose contiguity one after another to provide a substantially continuoustrain of gear teeth; a drive gear cooperable with each series of gearracks; a common driving shaft for all said driving gears; andvariable-stroke ratchet drive means 'operatively coupling each drivinggear with said common shaft, each said ratchet drive means having twooperating conditions in one of which the coacting figure-driving gearwill be advanced by a first degree of movement responsive to arevolution of said common shaft, and in another condition of which adifferent degree of movement will be effected; and means selectivelyoperable to determine which of said operating conditions shall obtain atany given time.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the band of said supportingand driven means includes an elongated, narrow, thin strip of flexiblemetal having its ends joined in a closing loop, said strip beingsupported to travel in a vertical plane; said gear racks comprising aplurality of individual gear blocks each attached to a side of saidstrip and each having a rack of gear teeth extending from one end toanother on the bottom thereof and each pivotally attached to the sameside of said strip in a series with the ends of successive blocks insuch contiguity as to permit the teeth of said drive gear tocontinuously mesh drivingly with the teeth of two succeeding blockstravelling therepast as a result of rotation thereof, said gear beinglocated to rotate in a vertical plane below said gear blocks.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said variable stroke drivemeans comprises a rockable member; a pair of crank arms each drivinglyconnected at one of its ends to said rockable member but on oppositesides of the rocking axis thereof; a plurality of ratchet wheels eachrotatable concentrically of said axis with one of said drive gears;ratchet dog means cooperable with said rockable member and ratchet wheelon opposite sides of said axis to step the wheel responsive to oppositerocking oscillation of the rockable member; a power shaft and separatecrank means thereon rotated thereby and each operable for reciprocatinga corresponding pair of said crank arms to oscillate the appertainingrockable member; together with means including electrically controlledblocking means operable selectively to first and second positionsrelative to the rockable member to condition the latter for dilferentratchet-advancing action depending upon which of said positions isexistent.

4. In a race game including contestant objects constrained to travelabout a circuitous course, means for supporting and driving said objectsalong parallel circuitous paths comprising: a flexible one-piece andsubstantially flat band having pivotally attached thereto at inter alstherealong a series of blocks each having gear teeth therein adapted tomesh with a driving gear; a driving gear for each said band; said blocksbeing spaced seriatim on each band in closely following successionpermitting rocking movement to each block and permitting any twosuccessive blocks to mesh drivingly with said driving gear such thatsaid series of blocks will travel said band circuitously responsive torotation of said driving gear; and means attaching a racing object formovement with said supporting and driving means.

5. The construction of claim 4 in which each said band is supported formovement as set forth in a substantially vertical plane of travel andsaid blocks are each attached thereto for rocking movement as set forthby means providing a rocking axis which is substantially normal to theplane of the flat band.

6. The construction of claim 5 wherein the means for supporting thebands for movement in vertical planes comprises a plurality of guidemembers adapted to be mounted in side-by-side relation to define aplurality of circuitous guideways with receded portions in vertical sideWall parts thereof receiving said bands and the associated gear blocksand confining the same for travel circuitously as set forth.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 further including driving mechanismfor said driving gear in the form of a ratchet wheel jointly rotatablewith said driving gear; a common shaft on which said gears andrespective ratchet wheels rotate independently, each in drivingrelationship to a corresponding band and gear block assembly; aplurality of rockable members on said shaft each juxtaposed with one ofsaid ratchet wheels to rock coaxially alongside thereof; a ratchet dogon each side of the wheel axis and spring-urged into driving engagementin the teeth thereof responsive to opposite rocking movements of saidrockable member; and means for rocking said rockable member comprising apair of crank arms each pivotally attached thereto radially of said axison a side of the latter opposite from the other crank, a single crankwheel drivingly engaging both cranks by means of a crank pin engaging ina long slot in each crank, and spring means acting on one side of saidrockable member to rock the same in one of its directions of rockingmovement, whereby rotation of the crank wheel rocks the rockable member.

8. A construction as defined in claim 7 wherein there is furtherprovided a movable stop member and means for moving the same into andfrom blocking position relative to one radially disposed part of therockable member to block rocking motion on the appertaining side of therocking axis in the same direction of movement as that imparted by saidspring means, whereby the driving displacement imparted by said rockablemember to the ratchet wheel for each revolution of said crank wheel isreduced.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 further including a stopping memberpositioned relative to any band and guideway for movement to and from ablocking position relative to a gear block travelling therein to arrestthe block.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including electromagnetmeans for moving said stop member to and from blocking positions as setforth, and means for energizing said electromagnetic means at randomintervals comprising a program ratchet wheel and means for automaticallymoving the same in small steps at intervals, said program wheel having aplurality of concentric zones each containing a series of irregularlyspaced light passages; a light source for each said Zone before whichsaid program wheel moves the passages in the appertaining Zone;photoelectric means aligned with each said zone and each electricallyconnecting with one of the electromagnetic means for moving the stopmember for the corresponding rockable ratchet-driving member, whereby toeffect intermittent arrest at random intervals for each travelling bandand contestant object.

11. In a racing game, a set of flat, circuitously travelling carrierbands adapted to travel racing objects and each formed into a closedloop having a substantially flat vertical side surface travelling aboutthe circuit in a substantially vertical plane, said loops being ofdiminishing diametric dimension and spaced apart one within anotherabout a common center; means supporting the bands for travel asaforesaid; a driving gear of predetermined width across the teeth foreach band, said gear disposed to rotate in a vertical plane beneath theside surface of the appertaining band in parallelism with the plane oftravel thereof, each band having a continuing series of gear teeth formesh seriatim with the corresponding driving gear, said series of drivengear teeth being provided for each band by a series of short individualrack members each pivotally attached to said vertical side surface ofthe band to follow in closely spaced separation one after anotherthereabout and each independent of immediately adjoining rack members,each said rack member having a linear rack of gear teeth which are atleast as broad across as the width of said driving gear disposed bytravel of the appertaining band for meshing alignment with thecorresponding driving gear; and means for rotating said driving gearsjointly or selectively, as desired.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said rotating means includesa source of driving power and means impositively connecting the samewith each said driving gear for unidirectional advance of the latter,said con-' necting means including a rockable member for each drivinggear and oscillable in opposite directions such that each completeoscillation thereof advances the appertaining driving gearunidirectionally, and restraint of said rockable member in oneparticular direction of rocking movement prevents advance of thecorresponding driving gear and restraint acting upon the correspondingcarrier will be transmitted through the corresponding driven gear teethto the corresponding driving gear and corresponding rockable member andwill likewise prevent rocking of said rockable member in said particulardirection; together with means selectively operable to permit andprevent rocking movement of any particular said rockable member in saidparticular direction.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 further provided with movablearresting means located at a predetermined point along the path oftravel of said carrier bands and movable to and from control positionsfor impeding or permitting travel past said position; and means formoving said arresting means to and from said control positions.

14. A construction according to claim 11 wherein each rack member ispivotally attached in assembly with the appertaining carrier band by pinmeans passing through the band with opposite projecting supportingportions on a side of the band remote from the block and on a side ofthe block remote from the band and both in axial alignment to bereceived in aligned, spaced-apart guideways supporting the assembly fortravel as aforesaid.

15. In a racing game, circuitously travelling carrier bands adapted tosupport and travel racing components and constructed in the form of flatelongated and relatively narrow strips substantially rigid in the planetransverse to their length, and flexible in the direction of theirlength, said strips each being secured in a closed loop and supported totravel with the plane of flatness thereof extending vertically about acircuit containing curvilinear changes of direction; and drive meansincluding a driving gear for each band and a continuous series of shortgear blocks each attached in fixed locations for one of the flat sidesof the band for individual movement relative to the latter, each blockbeing provided with a series of gear teeth .adapted to mesh with theappertaining driving gear as a function of travel of the correspondingband, said series of teeth forming a continuous rack of band-travellingteeth to be driven by rotation of the appertaining driving gear; saidblocks each being attached to the band, and each being of a length inrelation to'the radius of curvature of said curvilinear changes ofdirection, and each being spaced respectively from the immediatelypreceding and succeeding blocks in the series, in a manner to permitmovement of said band freely through said curvilinear changes indirection.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1937 Crowther et a1. 7/ 1950Hall. 11/1960 Canivet 273-86 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1910 Great Britain.

10 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

